Loneliness has become an urgent global health threat. This is the warning issued by the World Health Organization as it announces the creation of an international committee to manage the problem.
At the head of the commission, which is expected to operate for three years, was appointed the surgeon general of the USA, dr. Vivek Murthy, while the panel includes, among others, the African Union Youth Envoy, Chido Mpemba, a panel made up of 11 lawyers and government ministers.
The decision to set up the commission comes in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, which disrupted economic and social activity, increasing levels of loneliness, but also amid a greater awareness of the scale and importance of the problem.
“Loneliness transcends borders and is becoming a global public health concern, affecting every aspect of health, well-being and development. Social isolation knows no age or boundaries", commented Mpemba.
To highlight the magnitude of the problem, Dr. Murthy compared the health effects of loneliness to that of smoking 15 cigarettes a day, adding that it is a bigger problem than obesity and physical inactivity. (A2 Televizion)
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